Carriers Upgrading 3G Networks Ahead of LTE Arrival

According to a recently published report from ABI Research, mobile-phone carriers around the world are looking into 3G network enhancements ahead of LTE's arrival. Since Long Term Evolution deployments aren't yet something to expect in the near future, carriers are improving existing infrastructure to the HSPA (HSDPA and HSUPA) standard, the research firm notes.

“In order to keep up with the exponential growth of mobile data that has been spurred by fixed-rate data plans, operators must upgrade their existing 3G infrastructure,” ABI Research analyst Bhavya Khanna commented. The 3G upgrades will offer carriers the possibility to deliver download speeds of up to 21Mbps. “While progress towards the deployment of LTE is clearly racing ahead,” Khanna concludes, “operators cannot afford to neglect their existing networks.”

As many of you might already know, a wide range of operators all around the world already announced plans to adopt LTE as the standard for their 4G networks, and it seems that more and more LTE trials are being performed. By the end of September 2009, LTE trials or commitments to trial were reported on a number of 100 mobile networks, the research firm notes.

More than 40 trials were conducted in the Asia-Pacific region, with carriers in Japan and South Korea on top of the list. Moreover, it seems that 33 contracts for LTE equipment have been already signed. According to ABI research, the number of LTE subscribers is expected to reach 32.6 million by 2013, yet the first networks based on the standard should only emerge in late 2010.

According to ABI Research’s “Wireless Spectrum, Services and Technology Deployment Market Data” report, a number of around 200 3G networks around the world have been already upgraded or are on the process of being upgraded to HPSA, 50 of which are in Asia-Pacific. 54 networks are expected to be upgraded to the HSPA+ standard, the firm says, noting that this proves the commitment carriers show towards their existing infrastructure.

Additional info can be found on ABI Research’s website.